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Underground Soul: Sy Smith
Sy Smith has an impressive musical resume. The Washington, D.C. native has been a backup singer for Whitney Houston, Usher, Me'shell N'degeocello, Macy Gray, Eric Benet, Ginuwine, and Brandy. As a songwriter she's been nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Music and Lyrics and co-wrote a song with Terry Lewis. She's recorded a duet with Al Green (on the title song to the Showtime series Soul Food) and shared tracks with The Brand New Heavies and Ronny Jordan. In addition, she's appeared in GAP commercials, sang on TV's Ally McBeal Show and has her own production company.
With such credentials, it's a little puzzling as to why she hasn't achieved more commercial success and recognition. It's even harder to understand once you've heard her CD "The Syberspace Social." This album, which is the followup to her hard to find album Pyskosoul, is a mix of soul, jazz fusion and hip-hop and features production by Ali Shaheed Muhammad (Lucy Pearl, A Tribe Called Quest), James Poyser (Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Common) and Nicolay (Foreign Exchange).
Although Sy Smith is a serious talent, I like that fact that she doesn't take herself too seriously. Afterall she performs at L.A.'s Temple Bar with her band called Deeznuts. "The Syberspace Social" is an entertaining ride that builds up and progressively gets better. By the time I reached track #7, Runnin' (Jah Child), I was already grooving past the point of no return. She changes direction again and winds it down with the last two tracks and you feel like you really have been on a musical journey. "The Syberspace Social" is fun to listen to and very danceable but mainly it's funky in a way music rarely is these days. It will leave you anticipating your next journey floating out there in Syberspace.
"The Syberspace Social" is available at MobileUnderground and CD Baby.
Sy Smith - The Syberspace Social
1. Welcome 2 Syberspace
2. Fa Sho'
3. Aquarius Rising
4. Time
5. Love And Such
6. Dreamtrip
7. Runnin' (Jah Child)
8. Honeychild
9. Part Of The Night
10. Drop That
11. Stand Alone
12. No Place Like Love
13. Turnstyles
14. Bruise
sweetened by Honey on July 13, 2005 12:00 AM
poured into: Underground
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